Tom Goldman

A look back at sports highlights from the past year, from Serena Williams' retirement to Argentina's World Cup victory.

The 2022 World Cup came to an end in Qatar Sunday with Argentina victorious over France. In Buenos Aires, hundreds of thousands of fans flocked to the streets to celebrate.

The monthlong tournament in Qatar was filled with excitement, surprise and controversy. Argentina's victory in the final — which gave Lionel Messi his first title — cemented it as one of the best.

Trouble brews in the run up to every global, mega sporting event — such as buses not running on time, or venues seemingly not ready for action. But it melts away when the games begin. But what lasts?

It was one of the finest World Cup finals in the history of the tournament. Argentina is the champion after a thrilling match that went into extra time and then a penalty kick shootout against France.

France and Argentina will face off in the final match Sunday as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar comes to a close.

On Sunday, France will try to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles. Argentina is trying to win one for the team's legendary forward Lionel Messi.

The World Cup final is set after France faces Morocco in the semi-finals. The winner will play Argentina Sunday.

World Cup semifinals continue Wednesday. Defending champ France plays Morocco — the first African and majority-Arab nation to make it this far in the tournament. The winner faces Argentina on Sunday.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Argentina and Croatia played in the first semi-final of the tournament.

While attention at the World Cup has mostly been on stars like Argentina's Messi, Brazil's Neymar, and Portugal's Ronaldo, goalkeepers have also shined — especially for the final four teams.

The World Cup semifinals will feature two thrilling matchups. Morocco, the first African nation to advance this far in a World Cup, will take on defending champion France. Argentina will play Croatia.

Croatia does it again - winning a penalty kick shootout to advance to the semifinals for the second World Cup, eliminating Brazil. Croatia's defense stymied the 5-time champions the entire match.

The World Cup resumes today with two quarterfinal matches as the thrilling tournament resumes. Both will showcase soccer royalty: Brazil v. Croatia and Argentina v. Netherlands.

Many soccer fans are catching their breath after a string of exciting World Cup matches. Especially Tuesday, when Morocco became the first Arab nation to make it to the World Cup quarterfinals.

Gonçalo Ramos scored three goals - the first hat trick of this World Cup - to power Portugal past Switzerland 6-1. Ramos was playing in place of star Cristiano Ronaldo who did not start the match.

Croatia and Japan ended 90-minutes of regulation and 30-minutes of extra time tied 1-1. The Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković stopped three Japanese penalty attempts in the shootout.

The Dutch were favored and higher-ranked but the U.S. had found ways to keep moving on during the World Cup. But the Netherlands' high-powered offense was too much for the Americans.

The knockout stage at the FIFA World Cup kicks off on Saturday as the U.S. faces the Netherlands' powerhouse team.

The pressure is high for both squads, but the United States already has relieved some of that tension by moving into the tournament's second round, an accomplishment some observers did not expect.